League racism row reflects poorly on society

When the revelations about racist comments by NSW rugby league team coach Andrew Johns emerged last week, the whistleblower was a young man who stood up and said he’d had enough.

Footballer Timana Tahu walked out of the NSW team training camp in protest and released a video statement in which he outlined his concerns about the language John’ used to describe another player, Greg Inglis.

Inglis was quoted as saying he was pretty upset about the racist comments and quite disappointed.

As he should be. Both men have taken a brave stand against a culture that typically brands such protesters as humourless or even worse, unsportsmanlike.

Racist and sexist language is not used consistently for the fun of it or to amuse. It is about bullying and a not too subtle reminder of who is where in the pecking order.

The rugby league affair wasn’t only an appalling reminder of what happens in these elite sporting ranks (which don’t have a good track record with treatment of women either) but a sorry reflection on Australian society.

When language is used to remind women of their inferior or outsider status they are typically told to shut up or get a sense of humour if they protest.

Far from being hailed as brave objectors, however, women are labelled whinging, irritating and of course, worst of all, feminist.

Sticks and stones, as they say. But women in the workforce who object to being spoken about or treated in a demeaning fashion don’t just get called names – they usually get struck off the promotion list for good.

After all, no one wants a trouble maker – and a woman at that – to disrupt the blokey corridors of power.

Many women in senior positions in Australian corporations are well aware of this penalty and will privately admit to negotiating their careers and comments very carefully indeed to avoid “scaring the horses”.

As we emerge from a period when being labelled “politically correct” was a fate worse that death, perhaps it’s time to recall that some thoughtfulness about language and behaviour actually arose in the first place because it was recognised as a legitimate concern.

Despite some extreme examples, it was seen by many as an important symbol of change and progress towards a more equitable society. The ridicule, however, was soon ramped up.

But as these young rugby league players will tell you, being constantly referred to in demeaning or derogatory ways is not in the least bit funny for those in the firing line.

It’s been apparent to this columnist over many years of observation that those who protest the loudest about the silliness of PC language are those in power. That is, those who are unlikely to have been the butt of such banter, or to feel excluded.

And if language is so trivial, as they often claim, then why do they get so hot under the collar about changing it?

The ramifications of the league racism row go well beyond the language used in the sports arena.

It’s a sad reflection on our society when the turmoil is partly attributed to a failure of clubs to adequately educate the young men they employ.

This sounds pretty much like an admission that our culture produces young people who have a default to racism (or sexism) and therefore need to be programmed out of their bad habits.

What does that say about Australia?

In the workplace, overtly sexist or racist behaviour is rarely condoned, but it continues to exist. That is why the statistics over the past few years have recorded a backward slide in the number of women at the top of organisations and a tiny proportion of people in such roles from non-Anglo-Saxon backgrounds.

It’s not easy to speak out about these matters, but Tahu’s stand is a reminder we must draw attention to such narrow-minded nastiness if there is any hope of eradicating this behaviour and making the most of our entire population.

cfox@afr.com.au

The Australian Financial Review

BY Catherine Fox

Catherine Fox is a former deputy editor of AFR Boss
magazine. She is the co-author of two books and is a regular
speaker on workplace and gender issues.